Dark-sector physics in the search for the rare decays $$K^+\rightarrow \pi ^+ \nu {\bar{\nu }}$$ and $$K_L\rightarrow \pi ^0 \nu {\bar{\nu }}$$

AbstractWe compute the contribution of the decays $$K_L \rightarrow \pi ^0 Q {\bar{Q}}$$ K L → π 0 Q Q ¯ and $$K^+ \rightarrow \pi ^+ Q {\bar{Q}}$$ K + → π + Q Q ¯ , where Q is a dark fermion of the dark sector, to the measured widths for the rare decays $$K^+\rightarrow \pi ^+ \nu {\bar{\nu }}$$ K + → π + ν ν ¯ and $$K_L\rightarrow \pi ^0 \nu {\bar{\nu }}$$ K L → π 0 ν ν ¯ . The recent experimental limit for $$\varGamma (K^+ \rightarrow \pi ^+ \nu {\bar{\nu }})$$ Γ ( K + → π + ν ν ¯ ) from NA62 sets a new and very strict bound on the dark-sector parameters. A branching ratio for $$K_L \rightarrow \pi ^0 Q {\bar{Q}}$$ K L → π 0 Q Q ¯ within the reach of the KOTO sensitivity is possible. The Grossman–Nir bound is weakened by the asymmetric effect of the different kinematic cuts enforced by the NA62 and KOTO experiments. This last feature holds true for all models where the decay into invisible states takes place through a light or massless intermediate state.